Past
I began playing the violin when I was five years old, the piano when I was seven, and then the saxophone when I was nine. I can remember when I would learn how to play a new scale, or learn new notes, and get a new sheet of music. I was always so excited to come home and practice the song until I got it down perfectly. I really enjoyed just playing anything that came to my mind, and even would write a few songs every now and then. I used to play in fiddle contests, and was always competing against some of the best players, and nicest people who played to have fun and enjoyed it. I remember when I was about 12 or 13 there was a little girl, who just like me, began playing when she was five. It was her first fiddle contest, and she was extremely nervous, but went up there and did an amazing job. Eventually it was my turn and after I was done playing, she came over with her mother and looked up at me in awe and said I was amazing and she wanted to play like me someday. I had never thought that when I was barely a teenager, someone would look up to me in this way. I told her exactly what I had been told, and what I saw to be true. You must practice and dedicate yourself to what you love and enjoy doing. You can play, and do anything you want, as long as you put your mind to it. I look at everything in my life this way, especially education. You just need to dedicate yourself to wanting to learn, and be open to learning. I know someday when I'm a teacher I'll have students looking up to me in that way, and I hope to give them the same advice.


Present
Being in college, it's difficult to choose one moment that sticks out in my mind. Right now, the entire school is getting ready to schedule, and I'm trying to go through ISIS and pick the classes I need, with the best times, and the best professors. I find myself becoming more and more interested in class material that I never found myself as interested in before. I'm excited to start new classes, and learn new information. I'm trying to make myself into a great teacher by getting as much information I can. When I learn something new in a class, lately I've been finding myself day dreaming about my classroom, how it will look, and even activities I may do. I just want to take everything I know, and pass it on through every generation that comes through my classroom.


Future
When I think about my future, I think of a tree constantly growing, adding branches, and leaves. The tree is representing how far I've come and how much I've grown in my life. It shows how I'm "branching" out, adding people into my life, experiences, and even representing my family tree. I want to take everything I have learned and experiences that has helped my tree grow, and pass it on to all of the tiny seeds that are still in the ground. As a future teacher, I want to help my own future children, and future students to grow into their own successful and well rounded tree, as I have will have become. It takes many years for a tree to grow, and it's always continuously growing, just as I feel I am. I'm constantly growing from all of the opportunities I come into contact with, and being open to learning and being educated from more than just in the classroom.